Appearing on Christian sites

[Danocrat]

The following has appeared on numerous Christain sites and is making it's way into the mainstream. Has anyone proved this as valid or invalid? I've checked Snopes but they had nothing on it. I was hoping someone here had already debunked this before I start bitch-slapping some posters. Thanks.

"Hate Crime" charges against four Christian men, facing a total of 47 years in prison, were dropped after the judge viewed the tape of the incident.

Four Christian men were charged with “hate crime” felony when in fact they were peacefully protesting a homosexual street event on October 10, 2004 in Philadelphia. Concerned Women for America (CWA) urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to intervene. The four adult defendants, who face a total of 47 years in prison if convicted of the three felonies and five misdemeanors, pled not guilty.

“The District Attorney’s office went berserk, saddling them with criminal charges including trying to incite a riot, even though the protesters were peaceful,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute. “Their crime was to cite Bible verses, which a prosecutor called ‘hateful,’ and to urge homosexuals, like other sinners, to repent. It’s frightening to see religious persecution on American soil, especially in the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence. The Justice Department needs to step in and investigate this civil rights violation by the city of Philadelphia.”

It all began when 11 Christians from Repent America began preaching and singing at Outfest, a homosexual street event. The Christians, led by Repent America founder Michael Marcavage, were surrounded by the Pink Angels, a group of homosexuals who held up Styrofoam signs, blocking the group. Police arrested only the Christians.

After viewing a videotape of the incident at the December 14 hearing, Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan dropped charges against six other defendants, including a 72-year-old grandmother. A juvenile defendant awaits separate court action.

“The felony charges in particular are outrageous. We’re talking about expressing an opinion in a public area,” Knight said.

[sui generis]

1. religious persecution? sounds like they were using religion

to "persecute". Also, I'll bet you anything that the verses they were reciting involved stoning to death and going to hell and eternal flames and other lovely concepts.

It is a hate crime. If you're standing there telling people they need to stone queers to death, you are inciting a riot, whether or not a riot happens.

Those people need to be punished and made to see the error of their ways.

on edit: I use the word "queers" as an insider.

[Bronco69]

2. Someone posted this yesterday.

It's supposedly a letter from the American Family Association soliciting money for a video they have out. When he wrote them back, they simply replied, "I guess you're not for freedom" or some such nonsense.

[Danocrat]

3. Do you remember what forum?

[Bronco69]

5. Unfortunately I don't remember.

I'll see if I can do a search and find it.

[Bronco69]

6. Here's the site...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2914106

[Danocrat]

7. Thanks a lot

[Chipper Chat]

4. The only real crime I see here is heresy -

christians calling themselves "Christians."

[Danocrat]

8. Need some help with fundies

What's the best argument to rebut their following responses to my comments:

Left wingers complained whenever a protester was removed from a Bush rally... tell me, should they have had a permit; did you find their actions objectionable?

Notice these people were acquitted, they broke no law. If the tables were turned, you'd be glad your brethren were free.

QUOTE
Marcavage "used bullhorns and yelled offensive messages to the Outfest participants . . . . interfered with and unreasonably disturbed the Outfest activities."

You believe the authorities? All the time? Everytime they tell you something?

Free speech has to be free for everybody, or it isn't free.
You, my friend, can't see the forest for the trees.

Governments try and stifle groups (no matter who they are) that will get enough people to get mad. This then takes away from the real matter at hand. Loss of freedoms.

This gets lost in the all the polarized shouting and namecalling.

Just my opinion of course.

[One_Life_To_Give]

9. Truth is in the details

What they are not allowed to do is
"Disturbe the Peace"
and/or Insight a Riot etc.

If they had just stood there holding Anti-Gay signs there would not have been a reason to arrest them. Likewise a certain volume level of speach is protected. But this level can be exceeded using electromechanical devices like a BullHorn.

At Bush rallys. The protesters we complaigned about being removed were only holding signs or wearing tee-shirts.

[Danocrat]

10. Thanks

I think also that Bush deemed his rallies as private functions, thereby subject to arrest.